Today's Top 20 Clinical Leadership & Infection Control Stories
-
Congo bans residents from harboring suspected Ebola patients
The Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a decree to protect health workers from violence and ban residents from hiding suspected Ebola patients, according to Reuters. - 10/10/18 -
Senator urges OIG to probe sterilization protocols at Connecticut VA hospital
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is asking the U.S. Office of Inspector General to investigate the West Haven (Conn.) VA hospital's sterilization procedures after several whistle-blower complaints surfaced, the Post-Chronicle reports. - 10/10/18 -
2 CDC researchers awarded 2018 Service to America Medals
Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, and Margaret Hoein, PhD, MPH — both researchers at the CDC — received 2018 Service to America Medals. The awards, often referred to as the "Sammies," recognize federal employees' talents and achievements in the realm of public health. - 10/9/18 -
Higher temperatures linked to mental health issues
Increased average monthly temperatures may be linked to a modest rise in adverse mental health issues, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - 10/9/18 -
Congo's Ebola outbreak up to 177 cases: 5 things to know
The Democratic Republic of the Congo on Oct. 7 reported 12 new cases of Ebola in the country's North Kivu province, bringing the total number of cases involved in the outbreak to 177. - 10/9/18 -
How Florida health officials linked an 18-state Campylobacter outbreak to pet store puppies
An investigation by the Florida Department of Health's epidemiological team identified pet store puppies as the source of an outbreak of Campylobacter infections, which sickened 100 people across 18 states since January 2016, according to News 6 Colorado. - 10/9/18 -
Rush hospital nurse: Why providers should revisit how they discuss death with patients
Providers often struggle to have open end-of-life discussions with critically ill patients, prompting a need for hospital leaders to reevaluate how nurses discuss death and dying, a nurse argues in The Hill. - 10/9/18 -
Specialists dissatisfied with ED headache care, survey finds
Most headache specialists are dissatisfied with emergency department care for patients experiencing headaches, survey results published in Headache revealed. - 10/9/18 -
Johns Hopkins Medicine names Dr. Allen Kachalia SVP of patient safety and quality
Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine appointed Allen Kachalia, MD, senior vice president of patient safety and quality, effective Dec. 1. He will also serve as director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. - 10/9/18 -
FluMist available, but hard to find for some
The nasal spray vaccine FluMist, approved for use in the 2018-19 flu season, is available in limited locations, according to 11Alive. - 10/9/18 -
Kentucky confirms state's 1st flu death
The Lexington-Fayette (Ky.) County Health Department confirmed the state's first flu-related death for the 2018-19 flu season, according to LEX 18. - 10/9/18 -
California law to regulate homeless patient discharges: 5 things to know
California Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation requiring hospitals in the state to create policies for discharging homeless patients, the governor's office announced Sept. 30. - 10/9/18 -
Nearly half of outpatient antibiotics prescribed without infection diagnosis, study finds
One in five antibiotic prescriptions are provided without an in-person visit, and about half of outpatient antibiotics are prescribed without an infection-related diagnosis, according to a study presented at IDWeek 2018, an annual meeting for infectious diseases professionals. - 10/9/18 -
1 dead in listeria outbreak linked to ham
Smithfield, N.C.-based Johnston County Hams is recalling about 90,000 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes, according to a report issued Oct. 8 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. - 10/9/18 -
Virus season hits Pennsylvania early: 3 things to know
Several healthcare facilities across Pennsylvania are seeing an influx of patients with respiratory infections, viral strains mimicking the flu, and foot and mouth disease, signaling the sick season has come a few weeks early, according to the Herald Standard. - 10/9/18 -
Hand sanitizer more successful than soap, water for preventing respiratory infections in kids, study finds
Kids who clean their hands using hand sanitizer instead of traditional soap and water contract fewer respiratory infections, miss fewer school days and receive less antibiotics, according to a study published in Pediatrics. - 10/9/18 -
This test may help predict sepsis risk years in advance for heart patients
Researchers in the U.K. created a 'risk profile' to find heart patients who face the highest risk of developing sepsis, often years before they become ill, a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found. - 10/8/18 -
Study: Hospitals with American Heart Association quality improvement program give better stroke care
Hospitals that participate in "Get With The Guidelines–Stroke," a quality improvement program for stroke care developed by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, are linked to providing better care, a study published in JAMA Neurology found. - 10/8/18 -
CDC: Rare polio-like illness on the rise among children
The CDC said a rare but potentially severe condition that causes muscle weakness and paralysis in the arms and legs, typically among children, has increased in recent years, according to KHOU 11. - 10/8/18 -
168M flu shots available this season
Up to 168 million doses of the flu vaccine will be available during the 2018-19 flu season, according to The Washington Post. - 10/8/18
